Merlin's Children (The Children and the Blood) by Skye Malone, Megan Joel Peterson Page B

the milky white eye staring at him as though it could still see.
    “She…”
    The giant’s jaw clenched. Cole grabbed after the only thing he could think to say.
    “They’re afraid of you. They’re running. They… they know you’re hunting them. And…”
    He faltered. Too much would endanger Lily. Not enough might get him killed, king’s son or not.
    “It wasn’t a dozen Merlin. It wasn’t even half that many. And the queen… I escaped because she was distracted. They all were. They saw the news about the fires, and while they were trying to reach their people, I…”
    He hesitated, and then risked the truth. “I climbed out the window and down the fire escape.”
    Brogan’s cold gaze took on a dry cast. “The fire escape.”
    “You think I’d make that up?” Cole cried.
    “And this was in Atlanta?”
    He tensed, but there wasn’t anything for it. The giant wasn’t stupid, and Ashe would’ve gotten Lily the hell away from there once she discovered he was gone.
    At least, he hoped so.
    Or maybe he did.
    Fighting to stay focused, he nodded.
    Brogan watched him for a moment and then stepped back, allowing him to gain distance from the edge of the seats.
    “How many of the Merlin survived the attack on their hideout?”
    Cole froze. At his silence, the giant’s brow rose.
    He grimaced uncomfortably. “I’m not–”
    “How many?”
    Brogan’s stare was uncompromising.
    Cole drew a breath, floundering. He didn’t owe the Merlin anything. And it wasn’t like a count was dangerous. It didn’t say where they were, or what defenses they had. It meant nothing.
    His conscience didn’t buy his line of reasoning and his skin refused to stop crawling with guilt as he looked back into the giant’s eyes.
    “Maybe a hundred?” he hazarded. “But I’m not sure. I’m not!” he insisted as the man’s face darkened. “I think there might’ve been more elsewhere, but I never saw them, so I don’t know.”
    Again, Brogan studied him before finally turning and striding to the door. “I will have someone bring you dinner.”
    The giant paused, glancing back. “And if we have further questions…”
    He let the rest of the statement hang in the air.
    Cole hesitated. “Okay.”
    Brogan’s face gave nothing away. Without another word, he left.
    A breath escaped Cole. Shaking his head, he scrubbed a hand over his hair, trying to drive away the adrenaline surge the giant caused.
    He really didn’t owe the Merlin anything. And a stupid count of how many had been at the mobile home lot was harmless.
    At least, he thought it was.
    Maybe.
    He grimaced, turning from the door and walking to the window.
    Hundreds of feet below, workers rushed home for the evening while the dinner crowd made their way into the restaurants lining the street. Taxis like golden fish wove between the other cars, racing the lights and traffic and each other for their destinations.
    It didn’t matter. They couldn’t do anything with a count.
    Except know how many were left to kill.
    His eyes closed. The cold surface of the glass pressed against his forehead.
    Wizards were bastards. That was one thing of which he’d been absolutely certain, long before he’d come to Chaunessy today. The Carnegeans were more than proof; they were wizard poster children. And even if his father had worked for peace, Ashe’s family could have been the same.
    He wondered what his mother had done.
    A twist of pain burned his chest, carrying with it all the unanswered questions from earlier that day, and he scowled, forcing scorn into its place. Whatever Clara had done for peace, the Carnegeans had hated her for it, so it must have been good. And chances were, Ashe’s family had been just like his grandparents. After all, King Nicholas had maintained his grip on Taliesin’s magic without ever considering a compromise.
    Until Victor killed him for it.
    Though it wasn’t like he’d had much of a choice.
    Cole grimaced. That wasn’t the point. At least,